Usually someone’s godparents are the grandparents of a new born child, perhaps I’m wrong, but my godmother is my mother’s mother (thus my grandmother), and my godfather is my father’s father (thus my grandfather). Does it always have to be family related, because a few years ago I was asked by my best friend to be his child’s godfather? Are the terms godfather, godmother also used in British English? Is there another word for these people, because godfather and godmother sound so odd and old, even macabre (remember the television series : ‘The Godfather’?). What is a godaunt, or goduncle? In my case I would say that both my grandparents are my godparents as well. I’m ofcourse their godson. Had I been a girl I would have been there goddaughter. What do you think?
It’s really a confusing question to me too. At first, I thought that godmother and godfather were great grandparents. But now your friend told his son to call you godfather. Even I’m wrong, your friend might have been wrong more seriously.
The godparents don’t have to be the grandparents or anyone related to the child. My godparents were friends of my parents who were brother and sister.
“Godfather” and “godmother” are good names, because the purpose of a godparent is to take over the child’s religious training if something happens to the parents and they are unable to do so.
I understand that in Europe, where nobody is religious, they also have godparents, but nobody has succeeded in explaining to me what their purpose is if there’s no religion involved. Maybe the Europeans should call theirs “state bureaucracy parents” or something like that, since the state is more or less their god.
My other question that Europeans can’t answer is what the purpose of marriage is if they don’t expect spouses to be faithful.
Among the people I know, a child’s godfather is typically an uncle or a close (male) friend of the family. Likewise, a godmother is typically an aunt or a close (female) friend of the family. Possibly grandparents are also chosen as godparents sometimes, but I personally don’t know anyone who has done that. I imagine that a cousin may also be chosen as a godparent on occasion, if the cousin is considerably older than the child.
I’ve never heard anyone use either “godaunt” or “goduncle” in my neck of the woods.
On the other hand, the terms “goddaughter”, “godson” and “godchild” are commonly used.
By way of example, I am both an aunt and a godmother to my sister’s daughter. My sister’s daughter is both my niece and my goddaughter.
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[size=75]“I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt[/size]
So it was not wrong of my best friend to ask me if I wanted to be his child’s godfather, since I am a close friend to the family? I was very proud, you know, since I love children very much. Now, in Belgium, gays are allowed to adopt children, but since I’m single, I haven’t made the effort of doing so. However, if meet a friend and we decide to adopt a child, I would consider you as good godmother, however since you live in the USA and I in Belgium, that would be virtually impossible. Thanks!
Now, I teach English in Belgium in secondary school. Can I call myself an English teacher or not!
Now, Esl-Expert, I called you a very good friend. You know why, because you have something which other people can’t even spell; the word’s integrity.
I like you very much and as I’ve said before, I esteem you greatly.
I’m going to send you one more personal message, giving you my personal e-mail. No one can read what we write to each other. By the way, it is not my intention to gossip about other members of this forum and knowing you, it is not your intention either.
You are very wong! There are many peole in Europe who are religious; never heard of Catholicism and the Reformation, or even Ecumenism/ Oecumenism?
By the way, I don’t think Americans, or some other people for that matter, can answer the purpose of marriage.
However, you claim that Europeans can’t explain the purpose of marriage, since they don’t expect their spouses to be faithful. I can assure you, they do expect their spouses to be faithful. Yet, what you say is not entirely wrong, because ‘being unfaithful’ occurs in every culture. Example: Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton, what, 4 or 5 times? Why? Because they we’re so faithful to each other? Or did they want to experiment with marriage (and as you know they experimented with more than marriage and sex). What would you call that?
CHECK YOUR HISTORY, before you make such statements!!!
By the way, during the 16th century,there were horrible religious wars in England, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal. Many people were killed, burnt at the stake or tortured before they were finally executed.